In July 2025, students and faculty of the National University “Odesa Law Academy” participated in the annual Summer School on Comparative Private Law, which the Faculty of Law of the University of Salzburg has been organising for over 25 years.
The school offered an intensive programme: over two weeks, participants explored more than 35 legal systems worldwide — from England, Austria, Germany, and France to South Africa, Japan, China, Argentina, and Puerto Rico.
The lecture series included in-depth presentations by professors and practitioners on civil codes and the features of various countries’ legal systems (Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland, Estonia, Turkey, USA (Louisiana), etc.).
Seminars were held in English, German, and French groups and focused on key topics of private law: “Transfer of Property Rights”, “Breach of Contract”, “Family Law and Private International Law”.
Students worked on cases according to their country’s legislation and then compared the application of law.
Roundtables covered current topics such as: “Comparative Legal Methods”, “Law and Language”, “European Harmonisation of Private Law”, “Mixed Legal Systems”, “How to Create a New Civil Code”.
An important part of the programme was a visit to the Austrian Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court in Vienna, where participants could observe the judicial system in practice.
The official opening of the school featured distinguished guests: Marco Bosnjak, Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union; Professor Pascal Pichonnat, President of the European Law Institute; Professor Michael Rainer, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Salzburg.
For the third time, Ukraine was represented at the Summer School by the Department of Civil Law of NU “OLA”: Associate Professors Daria Minchenko and Yurii Orzikh delivered lecture on the specifics of Ukrainian civil legislation, the judicial system, and mechanisms for compensation of war-related damages.
Under the Erasmus+ programme, NU “OLA” students Irina Batsalay (Faculty of Judicial and International Law) and Anastasia Cherniavska (Faculty of Prosecution and Investigation) participated and received international certificates upon completion.
The Salzburg Summer School is not only about lectures, seminars, and discussions. It is also an opportunity for students and faculty from around the world to meet, exchange experiences, and experience the unique atmosphere of the international legal community.
